Pampanga - Philippines

Pampanga is one of the provinces in the Philippines' island of Luzon, which is one of the major islands in the country. It is located within the Central Luzon Region with its capital city being San Fernando. Nearby provinces include Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, and Bulacan. The people and the province is well known in the country to be a center of culinary expertise.

Pampanga History

The name of the province comes from the local word 'pampang', which literally translates to a river bank. It was inaugurated during the Spanish colonial era in 1571, which makes it one of the oldest provinces in the Philippines. During the said time, the province was subdivided into several local districts for taxation and governmental purposes. The province's original territory even included several portions of the nearby provinces.

Japanese imperial forces attacked the province starting in December 1941. Japanese invaders then occupied the province the following year after. 1945 marked the beginning of the arduous task of liberating the province from Japanese control. Liberation forces were a mix of American and Filipino troops with the help of local guerrilla fighters who fought against the Japanese since their occupation.

The next major event in the province occurred when Mount Pinatubo sent ash fell all over the country in 1991. Thousands of Filipinos were displaced in the said year as entire towns got submerged in volcanic mudflow during the mountain's series of eruptions.

Pampanga Terrain and Climate

The province's terrain is primarily made up of flat lands with Mount Arayat as its only distinct mountain. The Pampanga River is also one of the natural distinct features of the terrain in the said province. Like the most of the Philippines, the province experience two distinct climates - dry and rainy. The rainy season often starts in the month of May and lasts until October. The rest of the year usually gets the dry season.

Attractions

Since Pampanga is one of the oldest provinces in the Philippines, you should expect a lot of remnants from the Spanish colonial era. Several Spanish churches can be found among many other historical sites in various towns in the province. Other than historical sites, the provinces also has a lot of facilities and man-made attractions. You might even want to try a few rounds of gambling in Casino Filipino.

Angeles City, one of the cities in the province, has an international airport that serves hundreds of passengers. The province also celebrates some of the most colorful fiestas in the Philippines. One of the most notable fiestas here in Pampanga is the Sisig Festival.

Pampanga is known as a center of culinary expertise in the country. Traces of the Spanish colonial days are still found since it is one of the country's oldest provinces.